I was watching The Fifth Element the other night, and clicked over to the commentary track, and I heard something that probably everyone here has heard before, but it was news to me.... For the part that Chris Tucker played, they had originally asked Prince to play it.

My question is this:
How would this movied have effected the direction that Prince took at that time? Would Prince and Bruce Willis have recorded and album together? (Remember "The Return Of Bruno?" I think Chris Tucker played the part as Prince playing the part. He was funny, but Prince would have killed!

I didnt know prince was asked to play the part.

I actually love that movie.
[Edited 12/4/09 21:16pm]

I've never heard that rumor, and even if he was asked, who knows how it would have effected his career. It's all conjecture.

I love the movie too, but have never listen to the commentary track. That's interesting. I'm sure Prince would have turned it down if he was even asked. He probably gets asked to do a lot of films we've never heard about.

squirrelgrease said:

Sorry, it was in the Fact Track.
It says, "According to the casting director, Prince was also considered for the role of Ruby Rhod! So was Lenny Kravitz!"

So... Prince was probably never asked, but just considered. My bad. But it would have been kool!

I heard that Pince was an inspiration for the part of Ruby Rhod. I didn't know he was actually considered for the part. I can't quite see him poking fun at himself, at least not to that degree.

I don't see Prince playing that particular part. Prince took himself too seriously back then (and probably still now), and the character would have had to be more Valentino than silly sidekick.

thisbediscream said:

When I first saw this amazing movie, I thought that role is very much Prince inspired

Being considered for the part, isn't likely to be the same as asking Prince to play the part - it could be simply writing his name on a list.

I remember the first time I saw that movie, and immediately thought...
Ruby Rhod = Prince
The Diva = Grace Jones

I'd always wondered if the film makers had written the parts with them in
mind to play them, or just based the characters on a cartoon version of
their public personas.

zaza said:

Yep, I've always thought that too.

langebleu said:

I remember starting the same thread years ago and someone gave the exact same answer...except they were more smart arse about it.

muirdo said:

Do you mean the sort of answer you would get from ernestsewage?

xenon said:

omg

When I saw this in the theater,I kept thinking "Is he supposed to be a hyped up Prince?" lol.

BTW I think Tucker killed that part even if he did scream Kobe! too much

xlr8r said:

Great film - and yeah, its definitely Princely and its kinda hammered home when Ruby exclaims "Yesterday's unknown will be tomorrow's Prince of Fhlosten Paradise", with a real emphasis on the word Prince

xlr8r said:

In an interview, Chris Tucker stated he was going for a Prince-vibe with the character.

Sure wither the role was inspired by Prince or not , it is well known that Chris tucker is a huge Prince fan, remember Rush Hour 3 intro, so that actor (ala Johnny Deep) would bring some of his inspirations, this time Prince , to the character regardless.
But it was an inspired move and created one of cinemas most colourful chacters.
Years later when you mention Fifth Element you automatically think of Ruby Rhod.

The character Ruby Rhod acts way too feminine and diva-ish than prince
However, they both have the same fashion sense and both can get the ladies

chris killed that shit, yo . very prince-esque

I thought u were talking about the Element of Surprise...

love Chris in that movie i couldn't see Prince pulling it off

Love the movie and I can't see anyone playing it better than Chris Tucker..

Entertaining movie. Prince could have but there are better roles out there.

i enjoyed the massively oversized spaceship vs the massively undersized alien heads.

my girlfriend likes to say 'MULTIPASS' every now and again. unfortunately she is intelligent and ugly.

both the TV presenter and Diva are cringeworthy, and the only lightning outside greyskull is automatic future weapons.

luckily it is French.

Cx

ernestsewell said:

God forbid that anyone ask a question and pursue a discussion. Instead let's just trot out all our Prince facts to show everyone how fantastically...purple we are.

vivid said:

Not what I said at all, but these "what if" questions are as common as the "what's your favorite..." questions. Six of one.

When I saw this in the theatre, I was embarrassed because it was an obvious Prince caricature to me. And I was pushing so much Prince worship on my friends back then.

Of course if Prince himself had played it, he wouldn't have been so weak and spastic for his own image's sake... I think.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...SFg3pAprdg

There's a moment where he clearly emphasizes the word "prince" but then he sings a Lionel richie song... (P prob'ly wouldn' let them usse Kiss!!!)